Venerable Companion, Fudala Ibn Obeid,

May Allah be Pleased with him,

He is the companion Abu Muhammad, Fudala Ibn Obied Ibn Nafidh al-Ansari al-Aousi al-Umari, his mother is Uqba Bint Muhammad Ibn Uqba Ibn al-Jallah al-Ansariya.

He was one of the honorable companions and their great figures.

Fudala embraced Islam in an early stage and did not witness the Battle of Badr. The first battle in which he participated is the Battle of Uhud, as he witnessed it and the following battles too. Also, he witnessed the Homage of al-Rudwan. Further, he witnessed the Islamic conquest of Egypt.

Fudala Ibn Obeid resided in Damascus and assumed its judiciary for Muawiya, and he appointed him a leader for conquest of Romans in the sea.

Fudala has narrated 50 Hadiths[1] of the Prophet (PBUH)[2].

It is narrated that Muawiya Ibn Abi Sufyan, when he appointed Fudala for Damascus judiciary after Abu al-Dardaa', he said to him, "I did not give it to you out of love, but I have sheltered myself behind you from hellfire, so shelter yourself from it".

Meaning, when he selected Fudala for judiciary, he did not do that out of favoritism or preferentialism or for any other objective of the this world, rather he selected him because he believes he is pious and trusts his justice and fairness, so he made appointment of him a prevention from hellfire because Allah, Gloried be He, will reward him better and save him from torture because he favored Islam when he selected for assumption of judiciary in Damascus Fudala Ibn Obeid, may Allah be pleased with him.

The first one who assumed judiciary of Damascus is Abu al-Dardaa', then Fudala, al-Nu'man Ibn Bashir, then Bilal Ibn Abu al-Dardaa', then Abu Muslim al-Khawlani.

This may be proven by that fact that when Fudala died, Muawiya was keen to attend the funeral procession and carried his coffin himself and said to his son: Help me my son, as you will not carry after him someone like him.

He died in Damascus in 53AH, and was buried in it according to the consensus of the investigators.

[1] Prophetic traditions

[2] Peace be upon him.